BaptistsTexas Committed September 2002 Newsletter of Mainstream Baptists of Texas Texas Baptists to start new “Church Centered” missions emphasis Texas Baptists to In a move both designed to be effective their own mission programs in conjunction consider launching and inclusive, Texas Baptists will soon be with the BGCT, SBC or CBF (all treated launching a new missions emphasis that is equally and with respect). That is, there is missions network local church driven and fair to all the many a place for every Texas Baptist. By Bob Allen perspectives of Texas Baptist churches and The wisdom in this is that we are now individuals. in a “hands-on period” of life. People want DALLAS (ABP) — Texas Baptist lead- The heart of the new program is de- to be directly involved in missions. They ers are proposing creation of a world mis- scribed on page 22. An excellent press re- don’t just want to give, but they want to sions network to help churches and indi- lease from Associated Baptist Press by Bob go. They want to give and go to specific viduals sponsor missionary work across the Allen begins on the front page. projects in specific places. United States and around the world. The secret to this new approach is that Please read the details of this historic new The network, which would be estab- rather than the “pray and pay” approach to missions emphasis and consider supporting lished as a not-for-profit affiliate of the Bap- missions that has historically described it. Make your plans now to be in Waco for tist General Convention of Texas, does not Southern Baptist mission programs, this the BGCT annual meeting. The convention replace existing relationships with mission new emphasis encourages churches to be will meet November 11 and 12. Details about boards of the Southern Baptist Convention, directly involved in missions and design the convention are on page 21. but augments them with “fluid and flexible structures” that are church-driven and re- Baylor President Robert Sloan sponsive to changing needs. “Texas Baptists are interested in a bold to speak at TBC Breakfast new vision, not recreating what already ex- ists through traditional missions-sending We are excited that Baylor University President, Robert agencies,” said Charles Wade, BGCT ex- B. Sloan, Jr., has agreed to be the breakfast speaker at our ecutive director. “This world missions net- 14th annual TBC breakfast during the BGCT annual meet- work would create a way to connect ing. The breakfast will be held on Tuesday morning, No- vember 12, at 7:00 a.m. in the Waco Convention Center see Missions Network, page 4… Chisholm Hall. Tickets are $18 and a reservation form can be found on page 7 of this newsletter. Seating is limited. TBC Online! We will make every effort to accommodate you, but we ask www.txbc.org that you make your reservations early. INSIDE Robert Sloan is one of our renowned Baptist scholars. Message from the Chair Sloan graduated ahead of his class, earning a bachelor of Bill Brian ...... 2 arts degree cum laude in 1970. He was a member of Alpha Matter of Perspective Chi National Honor Society and the Honors Program, gradu- ating “With Distinction.” He then attended Princeton Theo- David Currie ...... 3 Robert Sloan logical Seminary, where he earned the master of divinity Do We Look Stupid? ...... 5 degree magna cum laude in 1973. He conducted post-bacca- TBC Breakfast Info ...... 7 laureate research in church history at the University of Bristol, England, from 1973-74 Testimony Joy Heaton ...... 8 and earned the Doktor der Theologie degree insigni cum laude from the University of Ethics East of Eden Basel, Switzerland, in 1978. Foy Valentine...... 9 Sloan has held positions as pastor or interim pastor of more than 20 churches in Texas, Oklahoma, New Jersey, and in Germany. Beyond the Wilderness Sloan joined the faculty of Baylor’s Department of Religion in 1983 after holding Cecil Sherman ...... 13 teaching positions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and at Prayer Calendar ...... 16 Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. In 1990 he became the first holder of the George Theological Inventions W. Truett Chair in Evangelism at Baylor, and in 1993 he was appointed dean of Truett Vester Wobler ...... 18 Seminary. Baylor regents in February 1995 named Sloan to succeed Dr. Herbert H. World Missions Network Reynolds as president of the University. Proposal ...... 22 Sloan and his wife, Sue, are members of the First Baptist Church of Waco. The Sloans have seven children. BGCT 2002 Convention We are very honored that Dr. Sloan serves on the Board of Directors of Texas Baptists information ...... 21 Committed. — 1 — to impact Texas and the world with the of heart and hand for state missions. The presence of Christ.” We owe many thanks offering, named for the woman who led to Antonio Estrada, elected president of the Baptist women of Texas to set aside a week Message Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, and to pray for and give to missions in the state from to TBC board members, Rudy Camacho of of Texas as they did for foreign and home the Chair Fort Worth and Albert Reyes of San Anto- missions, served for 26 years as vice presi- nio, for their commitment to Hispanic Bap- dent of Woman’s Missionary Union at the Bill Brian, tist churches in Texas and for encouraging national level. She knew the importance TBC Chair them to be in partnership with the Baptist both of foreign missions and state missions. General Convention of Texas. I hope that you supported the state mis- Greetings from Amarillo. More than 600 messengers from Afri- sions work of the Baptist General Conven- Summer seems to have sailed by faster can-American churches met in Lubbock tion of Texas by enthusiastically partici- in July for the African-American Fel- than usual. Vacations have been enjoyed. pating in the 2002 Mary Hill Davis Week lowship Conference. I am grateful for the Students are back in the classroom. Soon, of Prayer and gave generously. leadership of TBC board members, Michael it will be time for the annual meeting of Pray for Charles Wade, and for BGCT Bell of Fort Worth and John Ogletree of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. president Bob Campbell as final prepara- Houston, and for BGCT Executive Board This meeting of the BGCT, November tions are made for the annual meeting in Staff Member Michael Evans for advanc- 11Ð12, in Waco is of vital importance to Waco. Finally, pray for TBC executive di- Texas Baptists. The Missions Review and ing a stronger relationship between Afri- can-American Baptist churches and the rector David Currie, for Associate Execu- Initiatives Committee chaired by Clyde tive Director Vicky Trusdle, and Financial Glazener, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Baptist General Convention of Texas. The BGCT Office of African-American minis- Assistant Charlotte Caffey, and others in Church in Fort Worth, will present its re- the TBC office who work faithfully to help port to convention messengers. Texas Bap- tries, led by Michael Evans, strives to co- all of us carry out the mission of Texas tists will have the opportunity to embrace a operate with other Baptist bodies to minis- Baptists Committed. vision for cooperative missions in the 21st ter to African-Americans and others in ful- If you have not renewed your TBC century. filling the great commission of Jesus Christ. membership, now is the time to do so, as Begin making plans now to attend the The Mary Hill Davis Week of Prayer, TBC continues to inform Texas Baptists convention in Waco. Available hotels are September 8Ð15, is the time for Texas listed on the BGCT website at Baptists to reaffirm their commitment and encourage our BGCT leadership. www.bgct.org. Encourage other members of your church to attend. Encourage Bap- Remember 9/11 tists you know in other churches in your This issue of the TBC publication should reach our readers just after the one- community to attend. This is a meeting of year anniversary of the tragedy of September 11. The anniversary was a very the Baptist General Convention of Texas emotional day for me. A day of reflection on the many incredible stories of that you and they won’t want to miss. survival and remembrances of loved ones lost. As BGCT Executive Director Charles I hope you had time to attend a memorial service in your city or spend time in Wade has said: “We need your voice as we a moment of silence and prayer. What an opportunity we have to share God’s make decisions about ministry and missions love to the many confused and hurting individuals as a result of September 11. in Texas and around the world. We are We must all remember that God is ever present. We are not alone and God stronger when you participate in every ses- always hears the cries of His people. Ð Vicky sion.” Plan to stay for the entire convention Scenes from local memorial meeting in Waco which closes Tuesday remembrances in San Angelo night. Sometimes there is the temptation to leave after the business sessions are com- America land of pleted, but Tuesday evening, November 12 freedom— has all the promise of being the best part of may God continue the convention meeting. to bless us. Texas Baptists have much for which to be thankful for these days. Our broth- ers and sisters, messengers to the Hispanic God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Baptist Convention of Texas met in El Paso Psalm 46:1 (NIV) in June, its 92nd annual convention. Under the theme of “Renewing Ourselves for the Second Coming of Christ,” messengers em- braced a vision that the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas will “become a united family of diverse, spiritually healthy churches networking and developing re- sources, leaders and organizational systems — 2 — A MATTER OF ling illusion. of the family. The disease of certitude in PERSPECTIVE Consider the content of the 2000 Bap- non-essential matters is arrogant—and left tist Faith and Message. Statements of faith untreated it will cripple the church. The are the best people can do at the time they’re Consider the probability that a hundred Problem written. But using a “statement of faith” as years from now most Southern Baptists will an “instrument of doctrinal accountability” be very comfortable with both the idea and With is both dangerous and evil. That’s precisely the reality of women pastors. This changed Certitude what the SBC is doing now, having identi- understanding will most likely start in rural By fied the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as churches where congregations cannot pay that “instrument of doctrinal accountabil- a full-time pastor. David R. Currie, ity.” For more than 20 years now, residents Executive Director When the Southern Baptist Convention of rural communities have seen the local Throughout the history of the church, was formed in 1845, the founders did not Methodist pastor do a good job of preach- there have always been those afflicted with adopt any creed of statement of faith, say- ing and ministering—and in many rural the disease of certitude. They know the ing: “Confessions are only guides in inter- Methodist churches, the pastor is a woman. truth. Any who disagree with them are her- pretation, having no authority over the con- Increasingly, Baptists understand Paul’s etics. science.” words to Timothy on pastoral qualifications Michael Sattler was killed by church members who had succumbed to the crip- pling effects of certitude. In The Anabaptist The problem with certitude is that often what we Story, Dr. William R. Estep records what are so certain of turns out to be dead wrong. happened to Sattler. On a spring day in May, 1527, Michael Sattler was sentenced to death at the impe- W.B. Johnson, first president of the SBC, as advice for a specific first-century cul- rial city of Rottenburg on the Neckar River. explained: “We have constructed for our ture rather than as a rule for the ages. They The sentence read: Michael Sattler shall be basis no new creed, acting in this manner see God making that plain as He calls more committed to the executioner. The latter upon a Baptist aversion for all creeds but and more women to ministry, gifting them shall take him to the square and there first the Bible.” so well that no one with eyes to see or ears cut out his tongue, and then forge him fast We recognize the wisdom of their to hear can deny their call. to a wagon and there with glowing iron choice, knowing that if they had written The reality is that 99% of the women tongs twice tear pieces from his body, then the 1845 Baptist Faith and Message, it prob- God is now calling have no radical on the way to the site of execution five ably would have included under the head- agenda at all. They simply want to be obe- times more as above and then burn his ing “The Christian and the Social Order” dient, to live out their call to preach the body to powder as an arch-heretic. language like this: Word, visit the sick, baptize those who con- What terrible things did Michael Sattler In the spirit of Christ, slave owners fess Christ as Savior, hold the hands of the do to be put to death in such a horrible and should treat their slaves with respect and dying and the bereaved, voice a prayer. cruel way? To put it simply, he opposed dignity. Slaves should be obedient to their And yet, over this peripheral issue, which the “Faith and Message” of 1527. He, masters. has nothing at all to do with salvation or wrongly, according to the religious authori- Most likely, they would have cited scrip- reaching a lost world, we are firing semi- ties of his day, “taught, maintained and be- ture and verse at the conclusion of the sec- nary professors and forcing missionaries to lieved that the body and blood of Christ tion in the same way scripture and verse leave their fields of service. The disease of were not present in the sacrament” and “he are cited in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Mes- certitude is hurting God’s work, ham- taught and believed, that infant-baptism was sage. And they would have been perpetrat- pering those God has called, crippling not promotive of salvation.” ing a malignant interpretation of Scripture the church. Baptists today agree with Sattler’s the- by endorsing great evil. The problem with certitude is that of- ology. But in 1527 he was a heretic. Church I am not opposed to doctrinal account- ten what we are so certain of turns out members said he did not believe the Bible. ability on issues that matter. Employees of to be dead wrong. Some early Judean be- He disagreed with those in authority and any SBC or BGCT institution or agency lievers taught that no man could be saved power. And he paid for his faith with his should affirm their belief that Jesus Christ unless he was circumcised. (Acts 15) The life. was God in the Flesh, that the virgin birth church members who burned Michael Most Baptists see what church mem- of Jesus was reality, that the Bible is God’s Sattler at the stake were sure they were bers in 1527 called “absolute truth” as inspired Word and our authority in matters right. Our ancestors were so sure the Bible heresy in 2002. of faith and practice. taught they had the right to own other per- In 2002, is anything considered to be But no Baptist, no missionary, no em- sons created in God’s image that they fought absolute truth, which will be viewed as her- ployee should be asked to affirm every word a war for that “right.” SBC leaders are so esy 500 years from now? of a statement of faith written by others in sure they’re right to require Baptist mis- The Bible is absolute truth. Our inter- order to work for Baptists—especially in sionaries and seminary professors to affirm pretations of the Bible are never absolute matters that are not essential to salvation. a faith statement written by someone else truth—and any who do not realize this are Such non-essential matters include the role that they’ll fire them if they refuse. sadly deceived, laboring under a control- of women in the church and the structure see Perspective, page 5… — 3 — …Missions Network, from page 1 institutions involved in missions. only, ‘How do we support missions?’ It is churches and institutions with needs, op- The study committee affirms relation- also, ‘How do we do missions?’” portunities and resources.” ships that exist between the Atlanta-based The proposed network would be respon- The world missions network is the cen- CBF and various groups, associations, sible for facilitation and support of mis- terpiece of a 25-page report by a 24-mem- churches and individuals in Texas. Citing sions efforts; training; screening of person- ber missions review and initiatives com- “certain political facets of the relationship nel; establishing a database of missions op- mittee. The BGCT administrative commit- of the CBF with various Baptist bodies,” portunities, resources and activities; re- tee gave its preliminary approval at an Aug. however, the committee recommends that search; education; and helping churches de- 29-30 meeting in Dallas. the BGCT continue to work with CBF on velop missions strategies. The BGCT executive board will vote on projects but not enter into a formal rela- Partial funding for the new network the proposal Sept. 24. If approved, it will tionship. would come through Texas Baptists’ uni- go forward for final approval by messen- gers to the state convention, scheduled Nov. “Texas Baptists are interested in a bold new vision, not recreating what 10-11 in Waco. already exists through traditional missions-sending agencies.” Sharp disagreements between leaders of — Charles Wade the BGCT and SBC in recent years have led some to speculate that the state organi- CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal said he fied budget, the Cooperative Program, along zation might begin appointing its own na- had several discussions with subcommit- with direct gifts. Some work done through tional and international missionaries. The tees of the task force, which he described the network would be funded directly by report stops short of that, but it does sug- as “cordial.” churches. gest Texas Baptists will take more initia- “I never expected this committee to rec- It would be structured as an indepen- dent non-profit, similar to other free-stand- tive in setting their own worldwide mis- ommend a connectional relationship with ing agencies like Buckner Baptist Benevo- sions agenda. CBF like they’ve had in the past with the lences and the Baptist Standard, to main- “Anybody who wants to come to the SBC,” Vestal said. “I had hoped for and tain a close working relationship to the table can do so, but they can’t set the menu am pleased with their recommendation that BGCT while allowing quick response to for everyone else,” said Clyde Glazener, BGCT find ways to partner with CBF. We developing global situations. Not-for-profit pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church look forward to that. We already partner status would qualify it for recognition as a in Fort Worth and chairman of the mis- with Texas Baptists in a number of ways.” non-governmental organization, which in sions review and initiatives committee. Jerry Rankin, president of the SBC In- some cases gives credibility and better ac- The report faults the SBC International ternational Mission Board, questioned the cess. Mission Board for asking its missionaries need for the new network. “Southern Bap- In a separate action at the same meet- to affirm the 2000 “Baptist Faith and Mes- tists in Texas already have — in the Inter- ing, the administrative committee approved sage” and for its “New Directions” mis- national Mission Board — an excellent net- changes to a form it sends to churches to sions strategy that some complain dimin- work for personalized involvement,” record the amounts they contribute to the ishes cooperation with national Baptist con- Rankin said in a statement. BGCT. The new form removes a controversial ventions and de-emphasizes support for in- “Rather than diverting missions gifts to cap on the amount of BGCT funding for stitutions and meeting human needs. create and maintain a new institution that SBC seminaries. It also ends negative des- It calls upon the BGCT to “find ways to duplicates work already being done by other ignations against the SBC Executive Com- enable missionaries” who refuse to affirm entities, we encourage Southern Baptists in mittee and Ethics and Religious Liberty the “Baptist Faith and Message” as a mat- Texas to stand by their missionaries and Commission. ter of conscience. press forward with them in taking the good Wade said the change is intended both The report also takes aim at the SBC news of salvation to a lost world.” to simplify the form and to promote peace North American Mission Board for its de- The missions-review-and-initiatives re- with the SBC. Texas Baptists will no longer cision to no longer appoint ordained women port cites scholars who point “to hands-on comment on how the SBC spends the as chaplains and for attempting to control involvement as the future of missions.” money it receives from the BGCT. the spending of funds it gives to the Dis- Many churches already sponsor volunteer The new form increases the percentage trict of Columbia Baptist Convention. mission opportunities, the report said. As a of church gifts remaining in Texas in the It urges Texas Baptists to adopt a new result, the distinction between local and BGCT Cooperative Giving Budget from 67 cooperative agreement with NAMB that worldwide missions is “blurring percent to 79 percent. Churches may chan- nel their 21 percent earmarked “worldwide recognizes the state convention’s right to rapidly.”“Texas Baptists need a mission vi- endeavors” to the SBC, CBF or BGCT reallocate funds to accommodate jointly sion that recognizes missions as the respon- world missions, including the new missions funded state missionaries who object to sibility of every church and every Chris- network. As before, churches can instead signing the “Baptist Faith and Message.” tian,” the report says. “Churches increas- choose a designated giving option, in which The report doesn’t call for severing ties ingly want to own that vision, but they also they set their own percentage distributions with those agencies, however. It instead want a collective vision of what Texas Bap- between BGCT and global missions. pledges to “work closely with existing Bap- tist churches can do together. They see any tist agencies,” including the two SBC mis- vision that views missions exclusively in — Ken Camp and Marv Knox sion boards, the Baptist World Alliance and the context of institutions or boards that contributed to this story. the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and they only pray for and pay for as an incom- Reprinted with permission: also with BGCT-affiliated ministries and plete vision. For many, the question is not Associated Baptist Press — 4 — Do We Look Stupid? I read Baptist Press on Friday, September 6, and I wondered if deer on top of my truck. I stopped at a by David R. Currie, executive director maybe I was wearing a “stupid” gas station and the attendant asked ... sign and did not know it. TBC Board Secretary, Ron Ellison sent “Been huntin’?” I looked at him and me an article entitled “Signs for Stupid said, “No, the darn thing just jumped —David Currie People.” I laughed and laughed. The au- up there ... Here’s your sign!” thor, Bill Engvall said, “Stupid people Anybody you know need a sign today? should have to wear signs that just say, ‘I Dallas. He chastised Texas Baptists for am stupid.’ That way you would not rely Reading these funnies made me laugh “messing with SBC missions.” on them. You would not ask them any- out loud and then I read Baptist Press on BGCT has done nothing to “mess with thing.” Friday, September 6, and I wondered if SBC missions.” It is the SBC that launched maybe I was wearing one of those “stupid” a “new directions” program, which less- Then he gave several illustrations. signs and did not know it. Reading their ened their emphasis on agricultural mis- ¥ It’s like before my wife and I moved. response to the new Texas Baptists’ mis- sions, medical missions and theological Our house was full of boxes and there sions emphasis made me wonder if maybe education overseas. The SBC has insti- was a U-Haul truck in our driveway. SBC leaders think all Texas Baptists have tuted a creed that missionaries must sign. My neighbor comes over and says, “stupid” signs. This creed is a theologically shallow docu- “Hey, you moving?” “Nope. We just Baptist Press, the official news agency ment that will be laughed at by our chil- pack our stuff up once or twice a week of the SBC, released five press stories re- dren and grandchildren. to see how many boxes it takes. Here’s lating to the SBC leaders’ responses to the Graham also urged “every Southern Bap- your sign.” new missions emphasis. It appeared to me tist Church in Texas” to evaluate this latest ¥A couple of months ago I went fish- that to be accurate, they should have listed move and prayerfully consider an action ing with a buddy of mine, we pulled the stories as Lie 1, Lie 2, Lie 3, Lie 4 and that would support SBC missions. his boat into the dock, I lifted up this Lie 5. One would have to be pretty stupid In reality there are not any “Southern big ol’stringer of bass and this idiot to swallow these lies. Baptist Churches” in Texas. No such on the dock goes, “Hey, y’all catch I have written earlier of Jerry Rankin’s churches exist. Baptist polity is ascendant all them fish?” “Nope. Talked ‘em into letter to me when he told me a “bald-faced from the local church. There are only local giving up. Here’s your sign.” lie.” These press releases continue this pat- churches that freely affiliate with local, ¥ Last time I had a flat tire, I pulled my tern of bald-face lying. state, and national organizations. In Texas, truck into one of those side-of-the- One philosophy that has always guided all churches still have the freedom to affili- road gas stations. The attendant walks my work at TBC is “do not leave lies un- ate as they choose. No one in Texas will out, looks at my truck, looks at me, challenged or they will be believed.” For ever “mess with that freedom.” and I SWEAR he said, “Did your tire the sake of brevity, I will deal with only I would love to see Jack Graham and go flat?” I couldn’t resist. I said, two of the “bald-faced lies.” Prestonwood Baptist Church “prayerfully consider an action that would support SBC “Nope. I was driving around and those Lie #1: Jack Graham and missions.” After all, Jack is SBC president. other three just swelled right up on “Don’t Mess with SBC Missions” me. Here’s your sign.” He and his church barely support SBC mis- Current SBC president, Jack Graham, is sions. Prestonwood Baptist Church gives ¥I went hunting one day and had my pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in among the lowest percentages of their rev- enues to mission causes among all Baptist …Perspective, from page 3 cannot in good conscience affirm the 2000 churches. Baptist Faith and Message. We may “forge In 2001, the BGCT showed that Praise God, we do not burn our fellow fast to the wagon” those whose freedom to Prestonwood Baptist Church took in over believers at the stake anymore Ð though we follow God’s direction is hindered by re- $29 million in total revenues and gave $1.2 may “tear pieces from the body” of their quired adherence to a human “instrument million to all mission causes (about 4% work or their reputations with the “hot of doctrinal accountability.” plus whatever they gave through SBT). tongs” of untruth. Paul Pressler told a Hous- History—and our own experience—tells This year, they have given nothing to the ton television interviewer in 1982, “In some us that human beings are often wrong. We BGCT and only $310,800 through the SBT are sinful people, unable to fully compre- according to the September 5, 2002 issue The disease of certitude in non- hend the mind of God or the teachings of of the Southern Baptist Texan. If receipts essential matters is arrogant— Holy Scripture. Those who forget this ba- at Prestonwood approached $15 million for and left untreated it will cripple sic truth are guilty of arrogance. Imposing the first six months of 2002, then that is the church. one’s own certitude on other believers in just over 1 percent to missions this year. non-essential matters can become great evil. Contrast that to two large churches of our Southern Baptist seminaries, not a May God have mercy on the souls of whose pastors serve on the Texas Baptists single professor believes the Bible is the those who claim absolutely certain knowl- Committed Board, Jim Denision, pastor of Word of God.” We may “cut out the edge of His divine will—and on the souls Park Cities in Dallas, and Howie Batson, tongue” of a long-term missionary whose of those who do not oppose both such arro- pastor of First, Amarillo. Both these witness on the field is silenced because he gance and the evil it produces. churches gave over 14 percent to missions — 5 — in 2001, and neither would ever be consid- “share their vision,” and the old Christian since 1979, you should continue to support ered for president of the SBC. Life Commission is full of liberals who the SBC. I respect your right to choose. I think Jack Graham, as president of the support abortion. If you do not support the dramatic SBC, should try leading by exampleÐhe So which is it? Is the SBC since 1979 changes that have occurred in the SBC since should start sacrificially supporting mis- just like it was before? If so, then why 1979, you should seriously consider sup- sions himself before he chastises Texas have so many people been fired and had porting alternatives to the SBC that are more Baptists. their lives destroyed in order to “correct in line with what I consider “traditional” Lie #2: Richard Land, the direction of the SBC?” Baptist principles and practices. “The SBC has not moved” The SBC has moved dramatically in Lying is unethical and immoral. The Now this was a real beauty. Richard every area under fundamentalist leadership. leaders of the SBC need to tell the truth Land is president of the SBC Ethics and They are proud of the changes they have about who they are, their agenda and be- Religious Liberty Commission (the old liefs, and let people decide. Those of us who oppose their approach should do so Christian Life Commission, where I used He (Richard Land) did not to work). with honesty and the integrity. Land contrasted the BGCT to the South- mention, however, that the SBT There was no need to issue five press ern Baptists of Texas Convention. He has virtually no ministries and releases lying about what Texas Baptists pointed out that the new recommendations institutions to support other than are considering in the area of missions. by the BGCT would send the SBC only 21 through the SBC. Allow people to read and study for them- percent of received funds while the SBT The real question is: What do they selves and make their decisions. That is sends 52 percent of its received funds to do with the other 48 percent? what the BGCT does and always will do. the SBC. This is true. The BGCT is proposing a new vision. I He did not mention, however, that the urge our informed readers to study it. If SBT has virtually no ministries and institu- made, the firing of many employees, and you like it, support it. If you do not support tions to support other than through the SBC. the new direction of the convention. So it, then in Texas, you have total freedom to The real question is: What do they do with they should be honest about it and not “look support the SBC as you always have. How the other 48 percent? us in the eye and lie.” We are not wearing much more ethical could the BGCT be? Texas Baptists and the BGCT support “stupid” signs. Richard and Jack, come to San Angelo. eight universities, three seminaries, Buckner If you support the changes in the SBC I have a couple of signs for you. Benevolences, the River Ministry, hospi- tals, retirement homes, student ministries Letter from Rankin to David: and much more. The SBT supports Criswell College, has a few evangelism conferences, and does support some new church starts. June 18, 2002 This is not much of a comparison. Dear Mr. Currie: Land said, “The BGCT reminds me of I apologize for the delay in responding to your letter of February 21 regard- the farmer and his wife traveling to town in ing an invitation to visit the International Mission Board. I regret that you the family truck. The farmer’s wife is sit- perceived an invitation from an individual trustee as an official invitation and ting all the way on the other side of the chose to reference it in the context of negative public comments regarding the truck cab, as far as possible from her hus- work, policies and leadership of the IMB and SBC. The invitation was not band. She says, ‘we don’t sit as close as we authorized or issued by me or our board. As a Southern Baptist entity serving used to.’ The farmer from behind the steer- cooperating churches, associations and state conventions there would be no ing wheel replies, ‘I haven’t moved’.” apparent benefit in hosting a representative of Mainstream Baptists. Land adds, “The Southern Baptist Con- With regard to your request for information, as a matter of policy we do not vention hasn’t moved.” distribute names and addresses of our missionaries, not only for the sake of Now if you are from Paint Rock, you security but also to protect them from mass marketing and appeals. It would be inappropriate and impractical to share documentation of those who have ex- love and understand these farmer illustra- pressed suspicion of our doctrinal accountability as it reflects widespread and tions. This one was especially cute, (maybe growing rumors as well as phone calls, e-mail and correspondence considered Land was taught these at Oxford), but it is personal and privileged. I am enclosing the minutes of our January board a “bald-faced” lie from the president of the meeting as you requested, but you will note they contain no reference to the SBC Ethics Commission. Of course the BF&M as the request to our missionaries was at administrative initiative rather SBC has moved. Land, Pressler, Patterson, than trustee action. etc., have said the SBC must move because they feel our seminaries are full of profes- Sincerely yours, sors who do not believe the Bible, our mis- Jerry Rankin sion fields are full of people who do not — 6 — A New Kit for Your Church’s History On December 1, 2002, the Baptist History and Heritage Society will release a new and long-awaited resource kit titled A How-to Kit for Your Church’s History. This kit will contain a detailed How-to Manual for Your Church’s History. The manual will feature up-to-date guidelines for church history committees. It will show churches how to celebrate anniversaries; how to research, write, and publish their histories; and how to observe Baptist Heritage Sunday. It will also include practical suggestions for locating and preserving church records; displaying and exhibiting a church’s history; and communicating, dramatizing, and photographing a church’s past. Among the many writers are three superb directors of state Baptist history programs: Fred Anderson (Virginia), Frances D. Hamilton (Alabama), and Alan Lefever (Texas). Baptist churches of all kinds will find this kit useful. Consider ordering copies for your church history committee and for your church media library. Each kit costs $32.90 (including shipping). However, all orders postmarked and prepaid by November 30, 2002, will pay only $29.90 (including shipping) per kit. You can order by calling 800-966-2278; by faxing 615-371-7939; or by sending a written request to: Baptist History and Heritage Society, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024-0728.

TBC Breakfast Tuesday, Nov. 12 — 7 a.m.

Please send in the form below with your check to reserve your place at our 14th annual TBC breakfast. Your ticket request and check should be mailed to Texas Baptists Committed, P. O. Box 3330, San Angelo, Texas 76902-3330. Tickets are $18. The breakfast begins at 7:00 a.m. at the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washing- ton Avenue, Chisholm Hall, Waco, TX. It will feature Robert Sloan, president of Baylor University.

Name ______RESERVATION Address ______FORM City, State, Zip ______Church ______TBC ANNUAL Daytime Phone Number ______Enclosed is a check for $______for ______tickets at $18 per plate to the TBC breakfast, Nov. 12 at 7 a.m. It will feature Robert Sloan, president of Baylor BREAKFAST University. The event will be at the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Avenue, Chisholm Hall, Waco, TX. Return this form with your check to Texas Baptists Committed, P. O. Box 3330, San Angelo, TX 76902-3330 (915-659-4102).

— 7 — hank you for raising me. Yes, you helped to raise me. Delivered at the First Annual T Testimony Mainstream Baptist Network In the early 1960s the Southern Baptist Convocation Charlotte, North Convention was the sycamore tree that Carolina, February 15, 2002 helped me, like Zacchaeus, to see over the crowd and into the face of Jesus Christ. the age of 36, I was called by Antioch Bap- By Joy Heaton My parents believed that the best gift tist Church in Enfield, NC, to be their pas- Pastor of Antioch they could give me was a firm foundation tor. I have served this wonderful, 160-year- Baptist Church of freedom in Christ as a Baptist. old church passionately and faithfully for Enfield, North It was a Southern Baptist pastor who four years. I continue now to serve Antioch Carolina held my little, eight-year-old hand in 1970 while pursuing the PhD. and lowered me into baptismal waters as I followed Jesus into newness of life. Why am I giving my testimony today? I was nurtured in a vibrant, Southern The Southern Baptist Convention that Baptist youth group during what could have raised me has now disowned me. The 2000 been turbulent teenage years. Instead I be- Baptist Faith and Message now states in came a young woman committed to her Article VI that “the office of pastor is lim- The Holy Spirit has gifted me to be a personal relationship with Jesus and shared ited to men as qualified by Scripture.” What pastor. The Southern Baptist Convention my faith enthusiastically in high school. does this mean for me? cannot give the gift and cannot take it away. I must stand on the firm foundation It is a gift from God alone—a deeply per- The Holy Spirit has gifted me to be of freedom in Christ that I learned as a sonal and holy calling. The only two per- a pastor. The Southern Baptist child, and I will not let anyone other than sons who know if I am called to be a pastor Convention cannot give the gift the Holy Spirit interpret Scripture for are Jesus and me. me. I have a personal relationship with If I have been preaching and baptizing and cannot take it away. It is a gift Jesus—and I will continue to listen to Jesus, in error, then I will stand before God some- from God alone…the only two who has been walking with me and talking day—by myself—and give an accounting persons who know if I am called to with me for more than thirty years. I do not for why I preached the gospel and took the be a pastor are Jesus and me. understand those voices that call out to me hands of adults and children and lowered and tell me to stop preaching. I listen in- them into baptismal waters. I am willing to stead to the still, small voice of the Holy accept responsibility for my actions as a The inscription underneath my senior Spirit, who calls me to go and preach the proclaimer of the gospel of Jesus Christ. yearbook picture says, “He lives! He lives! gospel! My response to the strict interpreters of Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me Despite what some may say, I am not a the Bible—a Bible I dearly love—who say and talks with me along life’s narrow way. feminist theologian. I would like to be per- that women cannot be pastors “as qualified He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! ceived as a Christ-centered, Spirit-gifted by Scripture” is this: If one person accepts You ask me how I know He lives? He lives pastor. Jesus is the author and perfecter of Jesus Christ as Savior after hearing the within my heart!” (words by A.H. Ackley) my Baptist faith. Christ—and Christ Holy Spirit preaching through me, then I As a seventeen-year-old raised by lov- alone—is my Baptist message. I need no would rather break someone’s biblical in- ing Southern Baptist parents, teachers, pas- other Baptist faith and message! terpretation about what women can do and tors and friends, I truly understood the truth My mission as a minister is not to pro- lead someone to a saving knowledge of of that beloved hymn. I still do! mote feminism. My mission is to pro- Jesus Christ. or more than thirty years I have claim Christ. I am just as offended by Jesus called me to preach the gospel, studied the Bible on a daily basis matriarchical statements as I am and that is what I am doing. Even if the F and developed a very meaningful patriarchical proclamations. “In Christ Southern Baptist Convention tells me to prayer life. I was ordained as a deacon at there is no male or female.” (Galatians stop, I will take my stand on the firm First Baptist Church in Raleigh, North 3:28) Let’s get past our obsessions with foundation of freedom as a Baptist. Carolina, where I served as a 7thÐ8th grade gender issues and focus on Christ! This freedom is not free. Thanks to many Sunday School teacher, Habitat for When Eileen Collins, the first American of you who paid a costly price so that to- Humanity volunteer coordinator, finance woman to command a space shuttle, was day I can be the pastor God has gifted me committee chair and church clerk. asked about being a woman commander, to be. During all of my life as a Southern Bap- she replied, “What’s important is that we Now at the age of 40, I truly understand tist layperson, I never expected that God fly the mission. Whether you’re command- the words of Colossians 2:6, which remind would call me to be a pastor. I was a CPA ing as a man or woman really doesn’t mat- me of my Baptist upbringing: “As you for eleven years. But when Jesus called my ter when it comes to getting the mission therefore have received Christ Jesus the name, I responded by leaving my corpo- done.” (USA TODAY, July 16, 1999, p. 7A) Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rate accounting position in 1996 and en- My mission as a pastor is to “go into all rooted and built up in him and established rolling in a Baptist divinity school here in the world and preach the good news to all in the faith, just as you were taught, abound- North Carolina at Campbell University. creation.” (Mark 16:15) That is my primary ing in thanksgiving.” In 1998, while still a divinity student at task, and I am focused on that mission. Thank you for raising me as a Baptist. — 8 — In response to an invitation from David Currie to speak on the current Ethics East of Eden status of Christian ethics, Foy Valentine delivered this address to the annual breakfast meeting of Texas Baptists Committed in Fort Worth dur- By Foy Valentine ing the 2002 convention of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. When Cain killed Abel, the Genesis ac- What on earth is ethics? says, “To him that knoweth to do good and count says that on leav- The word itself is not a biblical word. doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). ing Eden, he “went out I was a grown man in graduate school Ethics is something you don’t do, like from the presence of the before I learned it. Joseph when Potiphar’s horny young wife, Lord and dwelt in the It is still not a word that trip easily off lusting after this attractive young immigrant, land of Nod, on the east the tongue of every glib religion huckster lured him to her bedroom and then tore his of Eden” (Genesis on the mass media circuit. shirt off before he broke loose and ran like 4:16). The Oxford English Dictionary, the best crazy to avoid her ill-advised passion. Eth- Humanity is everlastingly going “out in our language, tells us that Ethics comes ics is something we don’t do when we obey from the presence of the Lord.” for the Greek word ethikos which itself the commandments, “Thou shalt not kill; We are everlastingly choosing to dwell comes from ethos meaning character. Eth- thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt “in the land of Nod.” ics is defined as “manners….Relating to not steal; thou shalt not covet; and thou We are everlastingly wandering around, morals….Concerned with principles of hu- shalt not bear false witness.” like a drunk with one foot in a bucket “east man duty…by which a person is And ethics is something you say. All of Eden.” guided….Rules of conduct….The whole the things that ever get done in the world, Although we know we are supposed to field of moral science….” (p. 900). good or bad, Charles Rann Kennedy says love God with our whole hearts and our The Greek word ethikos was translated in neighbors as ourselves, we keep wallowing into Latin as moralis from which we get The Terrible Meek, are done by words. in the scandal of Enron, we keep waking our English word morals, meaning customs, There is great power in words. When right up in the morning to some new debacle manners, habits, disposition, manner of life, words are harnessed to the plow of ethics, like the WorldCom moral meltdown, we conduct, character. The dictionary says that great teaching and preaching and writing keep using the Arthur Andersen recipe to morals pertains to “the distinction between can come to life and change the world. The cook the books, we keep sliding down the right and wrong, or good and evil, in rela- contemplative life alone won’t get it. Si- slippery slope of the pedophile priests and tion to the actions…of responsible beings; lence may very well be golden; but words crime-coddling bishops of the Holy Ro- ethical….Relating to the…distinction be- fitly spoken and properly harnessed to wor- man Catholic Church, we keep reeling un- tween right and wrong; moral sense, the thy ethics causes are priceless, more pre- der the devastating blows of violence, ter- power of apprehending the difference be- cious than diamonds and rubies. rorism, adultery, child abuse, and greed, tween right and wrong….Treating or con- Ethics is all of this, and more, much, we keep tolerating perverted justice, bought cerned with virtue and vice, or the rules of much more. elections, and rejection of campaign financ- right conduct….” (p.1848). And yet….Yet, like a defective gene, ing in the political arena, and we keep shel- Now, in addition to this pedantic effron- neglect of ethics keeps rearing its ugly head tering and blessing “all the little foxes” that tery, what else is ethics? with every succeeding generation. gnaw our vines with their tender grapes Ethics is somebody you are. It has to do Just when it appeared that Christendom (Cf. Song of Solomon 2:15). with character, integrity, honor, duty, hon- in general and Baptists in particular were Instead of coming to authentic repen- esty, kindness, responsibility, sacrifice, in- ready to take a giant step forward in Chris- tance for our sins, we turn our major atten- volvement, engagement, and good works Ð tian ethics 100 years ago. And particularly tion interminably to building bigger barns, personal and corporate. 50 years ago, the cause of Christian ethics bigger temples and bigger cathedrals, to Ethics is something you do, like Isaiah surged mightily, but then fell back, gasp- what the author of Hebrews (whoever she who under God’s command walked “na- ing for breath like fish in a basket. was) called “forms and fasts and divers ked and barefoot” for three years “as a sign Walter Rauschenbusch flamed across the washings,” to good, safe matters like mea- and a portent” against Egypt and Ethiopia, horizon with his detractors bellowing hot suring the temple, counting the command- unworthy allies in whom Israeel had bull- Irish epithets against him every step of the ments, naming the apostles, and, yes, headedly misplaced their trust. Ethics is way but without quenching his prophetic mounting new crusades to talk about fam- something you do, like Virgil’s Aeneas fire. Giants emerged to preach and teach ily, or to talk about spirituality, or to talk who, obeying a divine mandate to find what and write in an explosion of commitment about evangelism or to talk about missions, was to become the seat of the Roman Em- to doing the gospel. Clarence Jordan started elaborating on the obvious, and pontificat- pire, resolutely turned his back on the good Koinonia Farm, Henlee Barnett put ethics ing about the aorist tense of Greek verbs. life and faithful love he had found in North- on the map in Louisville, and T. B. Maston East of Eden, indeed. ern Africa during the long layover when rose like Venus on a summer evening to Believers really are seeking “a city his storm-ravaged ships were being re- champion the cause of Christian ethics for whose builder and maker is God,” we real- paired, and steadfastly returned to the mis- some forty years of profoundly important ize that any ethics that ever gets done has sion to which his deity had called him, ethics leadership that influenced literally to get done “east of Eden.” “Navigate,” Jove had commanded; and the millions. Spawning an impressive array of So, let’s try to get the cart and the horse man navigated. Honor called and he did it. students, men and women whom God had in proper juxtaposition. Ethics is, indeed, something you do. James called and whom he had encouraged and — 9 — inspired and nurtured and enabled, truly ethical cop-outs. Who will move to set us The people of God need to embrace the impressive strides were made. Second and on track? insight that church is not steeples and third generations of competent and com- Preaching from today’s pulpits mostly stained glass but God’s kind of folks doing mitted Christian ethicists have been in turn eschews ethics like the plague, pussyfoots God’s kinds of things here and now, no aided and abetted by the Maston heritage. around prophethood, and recoils from rel- matter that it is our lot to live “east of Nowhere, however, are ethicists evance as if it were the sin against the Holy Eden.” now finding much of a hearing or much of Ghost. The people of God need to demonstrate a platform on which they are affirmed and In spite of the fact, then that in the full- daily that by the grace of God changed encouraged to stand. The climate that al- ness of time these Christian ethicists are people can change the world, that changed lowed Rauschenbusch to teach and publish sometimes lifted at high tide to powerful people do change the world. and prophesy in public changed. The sup- witness and great Kingdom effectiveness, The people of God need to bless and not port that in the fullness of time made a Jeremiah is still our man, the weeping curse our fellow Christians who heed God’s place for Maston to flourish, faded and with- prophet. Ethicists do well to weep. call to work in the business world, or to ered. The denominational base that blessed Still, as Martin Luther put it, the right involve themselves in the political arena, the burgeoning work of the Christian Life Man is on our side. or to toil in one of the professions, or to Commissions crumbled. In three or four Though all the ethics we do must be commit themselves to homemaking, or to short decades much of these foundations done “east of Eden,” the people of God serve God by milking cows, growing veg- had been eroded by what Patrick Moynihan have no choice but to make the most of it. etables, repairing plumbing, or typing let- called “benign neglect” at the hands of the We have to heed the advice of the angel ters, for ethics has to do with being the principalities and powers who are ever Raphael, in John Milton’s church in the world, with being the salt of ready and mostly eager to leave ethics till Paradise Lost, who said to Adam, rest- the earth, with being the light of the world, the last and then leave it out. less in his situation in the Garden of Eden, and with being leaven for the lump – “east We owe our blind spots about ethics, I “Dream not of other worlds” (Book VIII, of Eden.” reckon, to several sources. Line 175). The people of God need to pray that the Ethics is nearly always controversial; and Now, if there is any meat in this coco- Lord of the harvest will call forth ethics any time institutionalism confronts contro- nut, I’m fixing to come to it. laborers who will stand up and speak out versy, the establishment runs like a scalded Specifically, the people of God need to like Tony Compolo, who will take up the dog. Bishops and administrators have never preach and practice an authentic evange- cross of teaching Christian ethics like T. B. welcomed ethics-focused boat-rockers, sta- lism that insists on genuine repentance (the Maston, who will write and talk and agi- tus-quo disturbing prophets; and the hoi keynote of the New Testament) and true tate publicly like Bill Moyers whose disci- polloi can nearly always be roused to throw faith in God issuing in a commitment to plined mind and compassionate heart have the boat-rockers overboard and to stone the live under the Lordship of Christ in every been long employed to keep holding the prophets. area and relationship of life, before the bap- world’s feet to the fire, who will act in the Theologians, philosophers of religion, tismal waters are ever troubled. public square like Millard Fuller with his religion writers, and CEO-style pastors, in The people of God need to help our pas- burning vision of Habitat for Humanity, little churches as well as in big ones, are tors and teachers to understand that we sim- who will champion such specific causes as nearly always more comfortable in safe cu- ply will not tolerate the proclamation of a religious liberty and separation of church bicles or secluded studies with unlisted tele- partial gospel that has been shorn of the and state like James Dunn, and who will phone numbers, far behind the front-line moral imperative. Ethical conviction has to not rest in retirement but like Jimmy Carter fighting where a body can get hurt. begin in the house of the Lord if we are to will press for justice, relieve the oppressed, Great religion popularizers like John see better days. heal the sick, and take good tidings to the Bunyan generally much prefer to have their The people of God need to communi- poor. redoubtable heroes like Pilgrim spend their cate with our song leaders that we need Karl Barth sings my song when he calls time arguing fine points of theology, fo- and indeed require songs that do not ignore the church today to …Look and see whether cused mainly on what Bunyan called Beulah the ethical demands of the Christian faith she is not now really compromising herself Land (Cf. Isaiah 62:4) rather than getting and that we simply will not stand still for with the Devil, to whom no ally is dearer them embroiled in the excruciatingly hard either ditties or anthems that signal bad than a Church so absorbed in caring for her decisions that cling to social ethics: male music, bad grammar, bad theology, and bad good reputation and clean garments that chauvinism, slavery, military violence, ter- ethics. she keep eternal silence, is eternally medi- rorism, racism, dysfunctional families, sys- The people of God need to discipline tating, eternally discussing, eternally neu- temic poverty, citizenship, public affairs, ourselves to preach, teach, and write ethics tral; a Church so troubled about the tran- church-state separation, alcohol consump- so as to communicate the full gospel that scendence of the Kingdom of God Ð a thing tion, cigarette smoking, gambling, pornog- reaches out with relevance to touch the which isn’t really so easy to menace! — raphy, corporate greed, world hunger, and needy world, not a truncated, abbreviated, that she has become a dumb dog….[The the like. watered down, emasculated gospel that con- Church and the Political Problems of Our Today’s influential contemporary church cerns itself only with the winning of Greek Day by Karl Barth, p. 21, Charles Scribner’s music, anthems as well as choruses, gener- souls followed up by a painfully monoto- Sons.] ally does not have enough ethics in it to nous droning to read the Bible more, pray Although we live “east of Eden” may help a horse. They are all too often musical more, “go to church” more, and most espe- God help us to do ethics “while it is day, monstrosities, theological travesties, and cially give more. ere the night cometh.” — 10 — Letter from Jerry Rankin to missionaries - (late July 2002) Dear Colleagues: our board or me; to the contrary, I would porting churches that we would work in not have taken such action without the con- accord with and not contrary to the confes- I am writing to express appreciation for fidence that our personnel serving with the sion of faith of our denomination. your understanding and overwhelming re- IMB represent doctrinal integrity and de- Why did such suspicion and mistrust sponse to my request to affirm the current nominational loyalty. emerge anyway? The Southern Baptist by- Baptist Faith and Message. Last month the Many have expressed hurt that there laws have required those supported by SBC Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis would be anyone, especially a widespread entities to affirm basic agreement with the was a positive experience with a strong segment of our constituency, that would be BF&M since 1965, and we have done that missions emphasis. James Merritt reflected suspicious and precipitate the necessity of in the appointment process. When we be- on his travel to all fifteen regions. Dayna my request. I can identify with that be- came the only entity not to require staff, Curry and Heather Mercer gave powerful cause I, too, was deeply hurt and offended, faculty, or missionaries to affirm the cur- testimonies as a part of the Executive Com- that anyone would even raise such ques- rent BF&M, questions began to arise re- mittee report, and many felt the IMB pre- tions, but more than that, that my word was garding our accountability and whether we sentation was the high point of the conven- not considered reliable in giving assurance were “protecting” those not aligned with tion. Thanks to our initiative related to the all of our personnel were aligned with what the BF&M. When one regional leader re- Baptist Faith and Message and your re- Southern Baptists believe. Many of you fused to sign an affirmation of the BF&M, sponse, there was strong affirmation of the were offended that I had communicated a it increased the speculation that there must IMB and our sense of accountability to year earlier that current personnel already be many others as well. Perhaps most dam- those who support and pray for us. under appointment would not have to en- aging has been irresponsible or insensitive Now that most of our personnel have dorse the revised Baptist Faith and Mes- comments by a few missionaries on the affirmed the Baptist Faith and Message, I sage, and then apparently reversed that de- field to volunteer groups, in letters to home want to address several questions that have cision, which some assumed to be succumb- churches, and even to the media express- been raised regarding the process. I hope ing to political pressure. In 2001 I had com- ing disagreement with the BF&M and criti- this will help your understanding of the municated the policy officially adopted by cism of SBC leadership. issues and enable you to view my request our board. When questions and suspicions Most of you welcomed the opportunity from a larger global perspective and its im- began to escalate, the board felt some ac- to say once again that your personal doctri- plications on our long-range future. tion needed to be taken, but they did not nal convictions are consistent with the Someone recently wrote an editorial want to reverse their earlier decision and BF&M and, along with other Southern Bap- about the public response if our govern- signal any mistrust in our overseas person- tists say, “This is what I believe.” I recog- ment had discovered plans for the terrorist nel. I, and our board of trustees, personally nize, however, that some have struggled attacks last September 11 and done what feel responsible for the reputation of the with the response and been offended as if was necessary to deter that tragedy. The IMB and guarding your support. To deal they, personally, were being questioned. airlines and general public would have been with the crisis, I offered to secure the needed Others have not had a doctrinal problem outraged at the delays and inconvenience assurance with a personal request. I was with the content of the BF&M, though pos- of heightened security measures. The civil confident it would be respected and as- sibly interpreting scriptural positions a little liberties advocates would have probably sumed you would readily reaffirm doctri- differently, but have felt the request itself called for impeachment of President Bush nal accountability similar to the process made our confession of faith a creed, espe- for profiling and detaining people of Middle when you were appointed. Aware that some cially since the preamble of the new ver- Eastern descent, and other similar reactions. might not fully understand or agree with sion states that it is “an instrument of doc- That may be an extreme analogy, but some of the updated revisions, some al- trinal accountability.” Clearly, we are a con- because of our willingness to affirm doctri- lowance has been made for disagreement fessional people who believe there is no nal accountability to the Southern Baptist and expression of alternate interpretations creed but the Bible. For four hundred years Convention, the consequences that could while affirming to our sending and sup- Baptists have drafted confessions as a tes- have been disastrous for the credibility and support of the IMB have been diverted. YES! I want to join Taking appropriate steps to assure confi- ■ $35 Regular Membership dence and support on behalf of the SBC Texas Baptists Committed! has not been without offense and misun- derstanding, but this is a responsibility of Name ______■ Lay Person ■ Church/Denominational Worker leadership that I take very seriously. Rather than the issue being forced into an embar- Address ______rassing and divisive showdown, or our board of trustees having to reverse their City/State/Zip ______earlier position and impose a policy require- Home Phone ( ______)______ment, I chose to take the initiative adminis- Work Phone ( ______) ______tratively and request your collective re- sponse. This did not reflect any lack of Church ______Association______confidence or mistrust of you on the part of Mail Form and Check to: Texas Baptists Committed, P.O. Box 3330, San Angelo, Texas 76902-3330 — 11 — timony to their distinctive beliefs and stand liefs you wrote as candidates in the ap- than affirm the BF&M and their willing- on contemporary social issues to say, “This pointment process has always been mea- ness to work in accord with it. We will is what we believe the Bible teaches.” The sured by the BF&M as the criteria. continue to confer with any of you who BF&M is not a creed, as it is not imposed We were not surprised to discover in have not complied with this request. on any church to be a member of the SBC. this process that we do not have a doctrinal I appreciate the responsive way our re- No individual has to endorse the BF&M in problem among our personnel and, of gional leaders have worked with you and order to be a Southern Baptist. And you, as course, already have policies in place to the encouragement and support we have missionaries sent and supported by the de- deal with that. However, it has grieved me sensed by your overwhelming positive re- nomination are asked only to affirm that that several have been unwilling to ac- sponse. Thank you for the many personal your personal convictions are consistent knowledge appropriate accountability to notes of affirmation. This has been one of with what the convention has adopted. their sending agency and the churches that those more difficult responsibilities of my Although this is stated for the first time support them. Rather than responding in leadership role, but it was done for the ben- in the 2000 revision, it has always been an the spirit of Matthew 18, some have cho- efit of your ministry and our Kingdom task. instrument of doctrinal accountability. E. sen to criticize leadership of the IMB and This will enable us to get on with our mis- Y. Mullins, as chairman of the original SBC and publish disparaging remarks in sion of reaching a lost world with the solid BF&M committee in 1925 explained, as a newsletters and the media. This serves only support of Southern Baptists. I am grateful confessional people, “ÖBaptists have al- to undercut the credibility of the IMB and for your passion and devotion to lift up our ways insisted upon their own right to de- the support on which all of us are depen- Lord Jesus around the world. It is a joy to clare their beliefs and to protect themselves dent as we seek to be obedient to our call- support and serve you in the task. by refusing to support men in important ing and to fulfill the Great Commission. places as teachers and preachers who do A few have resigned and others have Sincerely yours, not agree with them.” The statement of be- expressed their intention to do so rather Jerry Rankin

RANKIN ACTS TO SAVE MISSIONARIES FROM TERRORIST BOARD

In an unbelievable letter to missionaries serving with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, IMB president compared the IMB trustees to the terrorists who attacked America on September 11, 2001. If you doubt this is true, simply read his letter (unedited, of course), which begins on the preceding page. Dr. Rankin explains to those on the mission field that when he became aware their integrity and commitment were going to be attacked, he decided to intervene in order to protect them and make the experience not so horrible by asking them to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message himself. Evidently this was the most “ethical” thing he could think of to do, rather than show true leadership and defend them from those questioning their integrity and commit- ment. Having a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics from Southwestern Baptist Theological Semi- nary, Dr. Rankin’s understanding of ethics raises interesting scenarios. For example: Suppose an alcoholic comes into the pastor’s office and says, “I simply have to have a drink.” Following Dr. Rankin’s example, a pastor could say, “Well, it was obvious he was going to fall off the wagon so I went and bought him a six pack.” Or a young man comes in and says, “I simply have to have some money, so tonight I am robbing the First National Bank.” The pastor figures the robbery is inevitable, so he tries to help him evade capture by the police. Christian Ethics is about stopping unethical behavior, not lessening its damage.

— 12 — Dr. Cecil Sherman was the first Beyond the Wilderness Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist From a speech presented at a MBN Banquet, Fellowship. Prior to his service at CBF, he Ft. Worth, Texas—June 26, 2002 was pastor of Broadway Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, Texas; for twenty years he was By Cecil Sherman pastor of First Baptist Church of Asheville, North Carolina. Currently, he is a professor lot of things have happened. The stars have kind at the Baptist Theological Seminary in of aligned themselves and there is an opening for Richmond, VA. Sherman is a graduate of our kind of people. It is not everyday that you A Baylor University and Southwestern Cecil have a window of opportunity. We had a window of oppor- Seminary. He has written widely on issues Sherman tunity in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, in Baptist life and ministry. 1993 and 1994. I think we made the most that we could of those opportunities. It seems to me that we have come to such a time again. Now it is possible that reading a few Baptist papers and Get Beyond being an adjunct teacher in a Baptist school can cause your Negative Self-Definition balance to be a little shaky or your vision to be a little bit If we are going to take a step forward, we have to get beyond blurred. If that is so, then what I say tonight will not cause defining ourselves by what we are against. It will get us out of Egypt, much harm, but if I read it right it has a chance to do more but it will not get us much further. Some of the people who came out of and be more. Egypt with us are nuts. They are fruitcakes. Every once in a while they The metaphor that I wanted to use as a way of introduc- wound up on the Coordinating Council of CBF. They did not represent tion has already been spoken in prayer. The Hebrew experi- Baptists. ence is a mirror. In it we see ourselves and by the grace of Talking about the fallacy of the SBC will not get us much farther God we have been set free. than we are currently. They are rather predictable. Let them go. They If you are at this meeting, you are not in bondage, you are are very creative in saying things that embarrass our common name. It out of Egypt and you are free. Do you recall the euphoria of is unfortunate, but I believe we have lingered in the wilderness because 1990 in Atlanta? How many of you were there? How many defining what we are against is both difficult and divisive. We have of you will bear witness that there was a euphoria about that created a rationale to justify our settling down in the wilderness. At this meeting that is absent from most Baptist meetings? That point I am going to say something that some of you could take as a meeting was different, it was not like a convention or general shot. It is spoken in the best spirit. When people talk about post- assembly. It was a magic moment. It was magic because we denominationalism they are out of touch with truth and reality. were free. Do you really think that a hundred years from now that there will I went back and read Exodus a few days ago in prepara- not be any Anglicans? Do you really think that Lutherans are about to tion for this meeting. They got free of Egypt but they did not fold up? For all the bad publicity, do you think that the Roman Catholic immediately get to the Promised Land. Getting free of Egypt Church is on its last leg? Denominations change, shift and refocus. got them to the wilderness. What they do best is stay alive. They are going to stay alive. Getting out of Egypt does not solve all the problems. We David Matthews once said to Buddy Shurden, “People who have are not in Egypt but neither are we in the Promised Land. We questions about denominations should try living without one.” Do you are in an in between state and so using the biblical language I know why you are here? Because you do not want to be alone, you call it the wilderness. want to be among your own kind. There are a lot of good reasons for The wilderness is in many ways unsatisfying. Faint- denominations. Talk of post-denominationalism is a clever way to avoid hearted people look back and this often happens to people the hard thinking a new denomination requires. whose sympathies are with us but the security of the former We have been building a new denomination for ten years. We have home pulls them back. But even while they are thinking not named it. None of the organizations want to call themselves a those thoughts, Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb are looking convention but they are all a part of a convention and the convention is ahead and plotting where do we go from here. meeting this week. It is in Fort Worth and we are here. When I took That is what I want to talk to you about. What would it the CBF job, Herbert Reynolds said, “Cecil, understand that what take to get us out of the wilderness and into our own you are going to do is start a new denomination of Baptists. You Promised Land? I am not speaking just of CBF or of Main- can name it any time you want, but understand what you are doing stream, but I am speaking of all of the organizations that we from the start.” That has made imminently good sense to me. have spawned. Because we are all on the same road, we all David Currie said in his writings, “ The time is not yet, but the time cluster at this meeting. We all talk to each other and under- will come.” Now understand what we are about and start thinking about stand each other. We have common enemies and we have what we are doing. Think about it in these terms. We are a convention. common aspirations and that makes us kin. That is why Use any language that you want but that is what we are. That is what David Currie can function in each organization. However, this is. there is a sense that you and I are a rather ill-formed cluster Now in concluding this part about negative self-definition, I do of clusters. It is to that point that I want to talk to you and not think that we have processed our SBC controversy experience make some suggestions. as well as we ought. We should not say “I do not want a convention” — 13 — any more. We should ask “what kind of Now you can get into an awful lot of convention do I want?” Now think about David Currie and Daniel Vestal. I could trouble being Bible believing, but that is it. That is the question that needs to be not be more pleased with that quartet. They good trouble. You can get out of that answered by people who are 40, 45, 50, 55 could fight for their own personal causes, trouble in a Baptist church. As soon as I and 60 years old. Folks like me do not but instead they listen to Baptists and fight got to First Baptist Church Ashville I nearly have a lot of business at the table. We have for the good of all. That is good leadership, lost it over the race issue, but I was hard to had our turn. but we are not where we were in 1980 or hit because I just kept on thumping the The question you need to be raising is 1990—we are a lot farther along. Bible. That greatly inconvenienced my crit- “what kind of convention?” Do not let Think about where we are going. ics. You can be for causes if they are clearly negative self-definition have a large part Snuggle up to Baptist biblical causes. They will stick with you in what it is about. I want a soft conven- people and polity on that. They will not let you go counter to tion, not a society. I want a soft conven- Ire causes struggle. Mainstream can al- their understanding of scripture or when tion—not the hard convention that the SBC most win in Tennessee, but it has not hap- you fly in the face of scripture. has become. Do not insist on conformity. pened. We can almost win in North Caro- So we need to honor Baptist polity. That is not the Baptist way but a conven- lina. It is a toss up in Kentucky. Why is When I was first with CBF I was given the tion is the Baptist way only if it is a soft that? A lot of Baptist people do not like the assignment of sitting down with the Alli- convention. Give people some space. We actions of the SBC but they are not sure ance and talking to them about joining with are not all alike, but we are more alike than they want to join us. One of them told me CBF. We had two such meetings. The mod- we admit. that I do not like the SBC but I do not erator of the Alliance was there. This per- I grew up in Texas. The language in the trust you. That will reassure you. son said, “We do not trust you people.” I SBC used to be that Virginia and North It lets you know where you stand very wanted to know what the problem could Carolina were the left wing of the Southern clearly. Now at this point we need to look be? She said that they did not trust us on Baptist Convention. I wound up spending at ourselves and think about some of the the woman’s issue. So I said, “What do twenty years in North Carolina and now things that we have done. Have there been you want?” She said, “We think that every six years in Virginia. I have been in about times when elitist groups among us have church in CBF should hold our position on 200 Virginia Baptist churches in the last represented us to a larger audience but they the woman’s issue.” I said, “We will never ten years, the CBF years and the six years never did really describe the majority of merge.” She said, “What is wrong with in Virginia. There are not but about 1500 us. you.” I said, “What is the difference in total churches up there. Big, little, rural, On occasions we have strayed from requiring me to say inerrancy and requir- blue-collar, upscale, you name it. They are mainline Baptists. Bob Campbell said it ing me to say your language on the not that much different from Texas Bap- right; Baptists are conservative. I have been woman’s issue?” tists. It offends them mightily when I say called a fundamentalist at Princeton. One It is an affront to our polity. Does ev- that. About the only difference that I can guy said, “I looked through my fundy finder eryone at this meeting understand that? Is tell between Virginia Baptists and Texas and found you.” He meant the student hand- anyone going out of here saying that I am Baptists is that maybe Virginia Baptists book. That is when I was a fundy. Then giving away the woman’s issue? I did not have slightly better manners. That is about thirty years later I was liberal. I have a fat say that. I said that decision should be the only difference that I can see. file of letters that call me a liberal. I got left to your congregation. You get to in- Now I have been told that there were letters from Alabama and Tennessee pray- terpret the text. What if you interpret the a lot of differences, but they are really a ing that I would be saved. Some times Dot, text and disagree with me? Are we are go- whole lot alike. A lot of people in Texas my wife, prays with them. ing to design a convention that is so hard came from there some generations removed. Baptists are conservative people. If we on our select issues until we exclude or There churches still sing some of the same are going to commend ourselves to Bap- marginalize all others? Think about what songs that I learned here. The ties that bind tists and ask them to join us we must present you are doing. us together are real, deep, and longstanding. ourselves in ways that make them say, “I If you are really going to say that con- I want you to think about what we are am like them.” I tell the students that I gregations are competent, that they get to becoming. We are not where we were in teach at Baptist Theological Seminary at read the text, do you really expect unifor- 1990. We have moved; we have changed. Richmond that Baptists are Bible believing mity? That is silly. If you really give the We are moving towards something. The people and unless you can make your case text to congregations they are going to go people who seem to be the most likely to from the text you are going to lose before a this way and that. At that point you need to help us are Charles Wade, John Upton, Baptist jury. do some thinking. Some ideas are very

— 14 — important and we really must ask for was church today?” “Church was fine.” of the churches in the propagation of the conformity on the person of Jesus, but I “Have any joiners?” Well sometimes we Gospel.” It did not say that the purpose am not sure we should demand conformity did and sometimes we didn’t. That hap- was to make them all think alike. It said on some of these other issues. That is about pened again and again. that it was to focus the energies of the the only issue that you have a biblical base Finally I decided that I would lecture to demand conformity. my deacon daddy. After all, he needed to churches in the propagation of the Gospel. Fundamentalists one time wrote to me learn the larger matters of the law. I ex- For years and years, there was no organi- and said, “What do you think should be plained to him that we could have a won- zational center except missions. That is what the unifying center of our theology?” I derful church service with no joiners. He pulled us together. said, “John who was faced with this prob- listened to me patiently. What do you think Two surveys were made at CBF Gen- lem late in the first century said, ‘Who is happened next Sunday? You got it. “Hello eral Assemblies while I was working for the person who is outside? It is the per- son, this is Dad. How’s church today.” the organization. “What should be the first “Pretty good.” “Have any joiners?” He son who denies Christ.’” Now I agree with purpose of CBF?” In both surveys, more dusted off my straightening of him. most of you on most of the causes but I am that 85% of our people said missions. You know what they want from the kids really willing to go to the mat on that one. Herbert Reynolds met with me in a cafe in who graduate from high school? They want Christianity is about Jesus. It is look- Hillsboro on a Saturday morning in De- somebody who will bring health to my ing at God through Jesus. That is the big cember of 1991 or January 1992 to discuss idea. It is seeing God through the life and church. Snuggle up to Baptists. Take care the possibilities of me taking the job with the words and the resurrected Christ. That of the church. Paul told Titus ‘I put you out CBF. Herbert Reynolds said that Baptists is what this is about. All the rest are debat- there to take care of the church.’ That is would unite around missions. This is an able, but that is the one that you can really the way I viewed the churches that I was educator speaking. They will unite around make a ‘stack pole.’ entrusted with. missions and that is all. I found that he had You know that early Baptists did not I know a prominent church that I will really agree on baptism. It took fifty years mercifully not call by name. Intentionally, good judgment. to come to the conclusion that we ought to they were moderate. Intentionally, they Always in my CBF travels, I asked for immerse people. I make that illustration to called a fundamentalist pastor because the questions from the audience and I could say that early on even the singular event church had shrunk. They did not agree with always count on one question, “What about that gave us our name was not agreed the theology: they were looking for results. the missionaries?” I do not remember a upon. It was the only time in my life that I ever place that I was not asked that question. If talked to a pulpit committee member. Moderate Baptists must showcase you listen to Baptists, they will tell you On my own initiative I said that I think quality churchmanship what they care about. We need a focusing, you are making a mistake. Five years later Baptists want our kind of Baptists to centering commitment. I have lost none of they were ready to unload that guy. He did showcase quality churchmanship. Some my enthusiasm for the causes that on occa- not fit them. They called him because they moderate churches look sick and anemic. sion have been quite contentious and heated, were looking for a way to fix a sick church. They are a poor advertisement for the other but if you want to center Baptists as I un- Listen to Baptists. We want them to come things that we are about. So come and join derstand them I hope you will consider the to us. Nearly half of them were with us our sick church. Baptist layman should be voting in the 80s. They do not like the illustrations that I have laid before you. functional people. SBC, but they do not trust you. We are designing a convention of Bap- I will illustrate using my deceased fa- tists, but we are having trouble finding ther. We came back to Broadway in 1985, Recover a focusing, centering commitment something that really pulls them all to- Mother and Dad were able to take care of gether. Once it was missions. That was themselves but they declined and pretty We are hard pressed for a positive nearly two hundred years ago and it may soon they did not go very far. Broadway focusing, centering commitment. Baptists have changed. If it is not missions you need was not on radio or television. Dad was were a scattered fragmented people from to find something better and stronger. I will very concerned about how things were go- 1609 to 1814. Then they began to come ing at Broadway and how his boy was do- together. The focusing, centering commit- leave that to your judgment. ing. Usually when I would get home from ment was missions. That is what got them Think about what we are doing, because church on Sunday morning, the telephone together. The original SBC constitution said every year we meet we are further down was ringing and it would be Dad. “Hello that the purpose of the organization was the road. Think about the direction we son. How are you doing?” “I’m fine.” “How “to illicit, combine and direct the energies are heading.

— 15 — Prayer Calendar

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer. — 1 Peter 3:12

October

1 Carol B. Norton, Grayson Baptist Association director of missions 2 Jimmie Auten, Greater Fort Hood Baptist Association director of missions 3 Jules W. Soule, Gregg Baptist Association director of missions 4 Mike Shillings, Guadalupe Baptist Association director of missions 5 Olin D. Boles, Gulf Coast Baptist Association director of missions 6 Randel Trull, Harmony-Pittsburg Baptist Association director of missions 7 Dan Connally, Heart of Texas Baptist Area director of missions Please Note: For better 8 Jim Leak, Hill Country Baptist Association director of missions stewardship of funds, 9 Rodney Williams, Hunt Baptist Association director of missions TBC will no longer publish 10 Milton Ertelt, Johnson Baptist Association director of missions the quarterly Prayer Guide. Prayer is an 11 Jerry D. Griffin, Kauf-Van Baptist Association director of missions important part of 12 Dorso Maciel, Laredo Baptist Association moderator supporting our Baptist 13 Larry Jones, Lubbock Baptist Association director of missions leaders and institutions; 14 Wayne Keller, Midland-Odessa Baptist Area director of missions therefore, a Prayer 15 Charles Goodson, Neches River Baptist Association director of missions Calendar will be included 16 Bobby Cox, North Central Baptist Area director of missions in our TBC newsletter. 17 Brad Riza, Paluxy Baptist Association director of missions 18 Bob Tremaine, Parker-Palo Pinto Baptist Area director of missions 19 Gary Redwine, Pecos Valley Baptist Association director of missions 20 Bill Wright, Permian Baptist Association moderator 21 Warren L. Hart, Red River Valley Baptist Association director of missions 22 Ron Herring, Rehoboth Baptist Association director of missions 23 Rick Hagar, Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association director of missions 24 Jerry Redkey, Sabine Neches Baptist Area director of missions 25 Charles Price, San Antonio Baptist Association director of missions 26 Lee Walker, San Jacinto Baptist Association director of missions 27 Danny Pickens, Smith Baptist Association director of missions 28 Randy Babin, Soda Lake Baptist Association director of missions 29 Tommy Wilson, South Central Baptist Area director of missions 30 E. G. Lambright, South Plains Baptist Association director of missions 31 Darold B. Baldwin, Sweetwater, Mitchell Scurry Baptist Area director of missions November

1 Tom Law, Tarrant Baptist Association director of missions 2 Larry Heard, Top O’Texas Baptist Area director of missions 3 Duane Kelley, Trinity River Baptist Association director of missions 4 Timothy Randolph,Tri-Rivers Baptist Association director of missions 5 C. H. Murphy, Tryon-Evergreen Baptist Association director of missions 6 Tom Billings, Union Baptist Association director of missions 7 Stephen Parks, Unity Baptist Association director of missions 8 Paul W. Stripling, Waco Baptist Association director of missions 9 Gene Pepiton, Wichita-Archer-Clay Baptist Association director of missions 10 Clint Anderson, Williamson Baptist Association director of missions

— 16 — 11 Mike Wilson, Alto Frio Baptist Camp manager 12 Aspendale Baptist Camp, Cloudcroft, New Mexico 13 Andre’ Raymond, Big Country Baptist Assembly manager 14 Stuart Swift, Camp Broadway manager 15 David English, Camp Buckner Hill Country Retreat manager 16 Baldemar Gonzalez, Camp Menard manager 17 Billy Jones, Camp Tejas Christian Camp & Conference Center manager 18 Mike Leamon. Chaparral Baptist Assembly manager 19 Bill Bridges, Circle Six Ranch Baptist Camp manager 20 David Mulvaney, Cone Oasis Baptist Camp manager 21 Van T. Lowe, East Texas Baptist Encampment manager 22 Rhonda O’Banion, Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment manager 23 George Hamontree, High Plains Baptist Conference Center manager 24 Danny Dawdy, Highland Lakes Camp & Conference Center manager 25 James Toles, Lake Lavon Baptist Encampment manager 26 Bob Dent, Lake Tomahawk Baptist Camp manager 27 Collier Szydloski, Lakeview Baptist Assembly manager 28 Jerry Smith, Latham Springs Baptist Camp manager 29 Charles Kendall, Mt. Lebanon Baptist Encampment manager 30 Brad Springer, North Texas Baptist Conference Center manager December

1 Lloyd Conner, Paisano Baptist Encampment manager 2 Jay Hammond, PanFork Baptist Camp manager 3 Eric Small, Pineywoods Baptist Encampment manager 4 Steve Dean, Plains Baptist Assembly manager 5 Alton Belew, Riverbend Retreat Center manager 6 Barry Nelson, Texas Baptist Encampment Palacios by the Sea manager 7 Doug Crawford, Timberline Baptist Camp manager 8 Phil Springer, Trinity Pines Conference Center manager 9 Tom Hale, Valley Baptist Retreat manager 10 Stuart Lutz, Zephyr Baptist Camp manager 11 Eleazar Maciel, pastor Ambler Baptist Church in Abilene 12 Roy Walker, pastor Ash Street Baptist Church in Abilene 13 Robert Graven, pastor Belmont Baptist Church in Abilene 14 David McQueen, pastor Beltway Park Baptist Church in Abilene 15 David Cason, pastor Broadview Baptist Church in Abilene 16 Larry Millican, pastor Capps Baptist Church in Abilene 17 Louis Brewer, pastor College View Baptist Church in Abilene 18 Michael Chancellor, pastor Crescent Heights Baptist Church in Abilene 19 Henry G. Barnard, pastor Elmdale Baptist Church in Abilene 20 Rickie Rister, pastor Elmwood Baptist Church in Abilene 21 Philip Christopher, pastor First Baptist Church in Abilene 22 Johnny Sheffield, pastor Friendship Baptist Church in Abilene 23 Terry Bratton, pastor Hamby Baptist Church in Abilene 24 Durwood Minor, pastor Holiday Hills Baptist Church in Abilene 25 Epifanio Castanon, pastor Iglesia Bautista El Buen in Abilene 26 Immanuel Baptist Church in Abilene 27 Rodney Watson, pastor Lytle South Baptist Church in Abilene 28 Louis Johnson, pastor North Park Baptist Church in Abilene 29 Stan Allcorn, pastor Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene 30 David Garza, pastor Primera Baptist in Abilene 31 Rudy Fambrough, pastor Ridgemont Baptist Church in Abilene

— 17 — Vester Wolber received his B. A. from Ouachita Theological Inventions Baptist University, his Th.M. and Th.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was of Fundamentalism Professor of Biblical Studies at Ouachita for more than a quarter of a century, and lives in retirement in Little Rock, Arkansas. By Vester Wolber The theological spin now being of- fered by Southern Baptist spokesmen tures do not say and do not infer that him, obey him. It is a book of praise, is not based on conservative interpreta- the Bible is the revelation of God. One but its praise is not for itself but for the tion of Scripture, but is a product of the is edging dangerously close to a form Lord God. It is an inspired workbook, creative, inventive theology inherent in of idolatry when saying that this Book which enables us to gain experience in fundamentalism. By referring to this is the revelation of our Lord. Bibliolatry the two supreme achievements: walk- new spin as creative and inventive the- violates the second law which forbids ing humbly before God, and walking ology I mean that it is man-made and the employment of any graven image, uprightly among our peers. The Bible innovative. It reflects a less than con- any human artifact, in our approach to is a cookbook, which invites us to “taste servative series of interpretations, which our Maker. Jesus said that God is spirit and see that the Lord is good,” and the have given rise to flawed theology. and those who would worship him must essential difference between the Bible Conservative interpreters of Scrip- do so in spirit. and the Lord is the difference between ture seek first to discover and under- The Bible is the primary pipeline a cookbook and a Dutch apple pie. stand what the Bible teaches, then fash- through which the message of God’s Conclusion: Saying that the Bible ion their theology from their findings; self-disclosure is conveyed to us, and is the revelation of God is to assign it a but the hermeneutical principle under- to say that the Bible is that revelation is place alongside of Christ and attempt lying this net-fundamentalism encour- to confuse the agent of transmission to expand the Trinity into a foursome, ages its pupils first to develop rigid con- with the message being conveyed. three of them personal and spiritual, clusions before beginning the study of The amazing paradox of Baptist his- the fourth a Book. Scripture, which conclusions are then tory in the making is that those who brought with them into their study of would all but deify the Bible advocate It is not conservative Baptist the Bible. an item of theology, which is not taught theology to make the Baptist in the Bible. At no point in the inspired 2 Faith and Message, amended It was not conservative ex- Book is it said or implied that the Bible version, the criterion by which it is de- egesis of New Testament is God’s revelation of himself. termined whether or not proven ser- 1 Scriptures, but innovative the- My claim through the years has been vants of God are qualified to continue ology that enticed the Convention to that I am too conservative to be a fun- serving in world missions. Is not this revise its first article of faith in the Bap- damentalist, and now these neo-funda- latest ruling the equivalent of ruling that tist Faith and Message so as to state mentalists have confirmed my claim by the revised document is fully inspired that the Bible is the revelation of God. devising an item of theology, which is and infallible? The opening prologue to John’s Gos- not taught in the Bible. Although the Bible is not an idol to pel says that the eternal and divine Mark’s Gospel, in paraphrasing a be worshiped and bowed down to, it is Word became flesh, i. e., came to be passage from Isaiah, wrote that men the only creed, which Baptists have the man Jesus of Nazareth, and made such as these are “teaching as doctrine been willing to follow, and as of this God known—revealed him. the precepts of man” (Mark 7: 7). The date there is no crying need for a con- These eighteen verses tell us that a Bible is not a sacred object to be adored densed creed, especially not for one divine agent reveals the divine nature and praised; it is a practical guidebook with flawed theology. of God and that agent is from within whose teachings are to be studied and Conclusion: Let others recite the an- the Godhead, not separate and apart obeyed. It is not a self-conscious book cient Apostles’ Creed if they so desire; from God. To say that the Bible is the which ever calls attention to itself, but Baptists must continue to “search the revelation of God is to imply, if not is an awesome index finger pointing Scriptures,” because we have found in declare, that the Bible is divine. The away from itself toward God in Christ, them the way to walk humbly before fallacy of this claim is that the Scrip- telling us to hear him, believe him, trust God and uprightly among men. — 18 — of pure democracy in which ultimate band, all women should remain mute It is not in line with conser- responsibility for success or failure of in public worship, and they should not vative polity, nor with Baptist the church rests on the men, women, cut their hair. 3 heritage, for the Convention and young persons who comprise its (2) His purpose in proposing these to assume and assert authority over membership. In established churches of regulations was to see that churches conduct public services in full compli- churches. This new trend is turning Europe, the state supports the church ance with social and cultural patterns Baptist tradition on its head. Baptists, financially, and the people have little then extant so as not to be offensive to and especially Southern Baptists, have responsibility. In authoritative churches outsiders. Just as the apostle to Gen- been quite consistent in adhering to the (denominations) of America, ministers tiles insisted in Romans 13 that Chris- basic tenet that all ecclesiastical author- serve at the will of ecclesiastical au- tians live in full compliance with Ro- ity inheres in local congregations, and thorities, and the people are not overly man law, so also did he desire that his have insisted that all such authority loaded with responsibility. But a Bap- people conduct themselves in compli- flows upward from the churches, not tist church is financed by its members, ance with cultural patterns then in downward from denominational offic- and the pastor serves subject to the will vogue. ers. of the local body. It is this load of re- (3) How then should we apply his Paul, Peter, John and other New Tes- sponsibility that has made our laity directives in twenty-first century tament authors wrote letters to individu- strong. America? The answer: consistently, and als, to churches, and to groups of with due caution; not willy-nilly. In es- sence, the added-on article of faith and churches in a given area; but none of Finally, the new article of faith those who are pushing it are saying to them wrote letters to any ecclesiastical and those who designed it call our people: you must obey Paul’s coun- officials with authority over churches. 5for a rigid application of Paul’s sel that wives be in subjection to their Conclusion: Baptists don’t like to counsel for wives, while ignoring or husbands, but you may disregard his be driven, but will follow shepherds circumventing other declarations re- mandate that women keep quiet in who lead them in paths of righteous- garding the role of women. Paul’s church. They are also saying that a wife ness and do not seek to be lords over lengthy discussions of the role of must be fully submissive to her hus- God’s heritage. The role model for Bap- women in the home, at church, and in band just as the text says, but there is tist ministers must ever be the shep- society are found in chapters 7, 11, and no need for women to obey Paul’s in- herd servant, not an Egyptian taskmas- 14 of First Corinthians; and in junction against trimming their hair. ter. Ephesians 5. Their silence on this issue is a tack These passages contain three defini- admission that the advocates of a throw- The new spin that the pastor tive items of practical theology: (a) In back culture lost their battle against bobbed hair early last century. is to exercise authority over the home a wife was to be submissive Thus far, modern women have won their churches is inconsistent to her husband, as unto the Lord; (b) in 4 their first conflict with fundamentalism, with New Testament teaching and with church worship women were to be and decades have passed since anyone historic Baptist polity. Both the Bible mute; and (c) in society at large she has raised the old issue of shorthaired and history tell us that all ecclesiastical was not to shorten her hair. This latest women. Slowly but steadily, women are authority resides in local congregations, article of faith adopted by Southern gaining the right to be heard at church, and inside a given church authority rests Baptists mandates a literal interpreta- on the mission fields, and in various on the entire membership. The pastor tion and a rigid application of this first walks of life. has no authority over the membership item of practical theology, but those Regarding authority in family life other than that which (a) he has earned, who advocate it do not make any such that has never been a problem when (b) the congregation has assigned to application of Paul’s teachings regard- both husband and wife are mature him, and (c) he continues to exercise as ing the role of women at church or in Christians: They establish a division of a shepherd servant. All this is gathered society. authority that works beautifully. It is interesting to note, however, that among up in the two titles assigned to him Conservative hermeneutics would the immature, ignorant, uncouth and since New Testament days. As pastor have us seek answers to three ques- ungodly it is not uncommon to see hus- he is to shepherd the flock, and as min- tions: What did Paul mean by these bands who dominate, even brutalize ister he is to serve it. expressions? Why did he express them? their wives. Conclusion: The genius of our Bap- How should we apply them? As of this date, there is no crying tist way of life is that from the begin- (1) Paul meant what he wrote, that a need in America for an increased num- ning it has been a layman’s movement wife should be submissive to her hus- ber of men who dominate their wives. — 19 — The Truth About The IMB, Jerry Rankin and My Invitation to Visit

By David R. Currie, Executive Director accepting it publicly. the invitation. As you are probably aware, I was in- Therefore, I did accept the invitation dur- The IMB met May 20-21. After two vited to meet with Jerry Rankin, President ing my sermon in Charlotte on February more weeks, I called David again. He sim- of the International Mission Board of the 15, and after returning home, I wrote Dr. ply said they were canceling the invitation Southern Baptist Convention, and then Rankin and told him I was looking forward and there was nothing he could do. He said disinvited. Events like this are always con- to meeting with him. I also asked that Bill the decision had already been made at the fusing so I would like to simply tell the full Wilson, pastor of First Baptist Church, last board meeting, which he missed. He story. Waynesboro, Virginia, and co-chair of the was upset that Dr. Rankin had not already In January of this year, I was driving Mainstream Baptist Network be allowed to written me because he said Dr. Rankin had back from Dallas when I called my office come with me to the meeting. been urged to write me immediately. to check my messages. One call was from I wrote Dr. Rankin that I wanted to dis- Finally, I did receive a letter from Dr. David Evans, pastor of Trinity Baptist cuss three specific agenda items: Rankin dated, June 18, 2002 (The entire Church, Amarillo. I was surprised David 1. I asked for the names and addresses of text of the letter is reprinted on Page 6). In had called me. We were good friends in all current IMB missionaries. (I under- that letter, Dr. Rankin stated that he was seminary but seldom visited now. David is stood that there might be security con- sorry that I “misunderstood an invitation a trustee of the IMB and has maintained cerns regarding some of the names. I from an individual board member to be an his support for the SBC. I have always liked wanted to publish this information so official invitation from the board or from David and knew the feeling was mutual. our members could pray for these mis- him.” David, in my opinion, is not a political sionaries as they considered the recent He then informed me that I could not person. He is genuine and who he is. request that they sign the 2000 Baptist have any answers to my questions, but that I returned David’s call. We visited about Faith and Message.) he had sent a copy of the minutes from that both having sons who were seniors at board meeting but discussions relating to 2. I wanted to see his documentation/evi- Baylor and other personal things. Then he the 2000 BF&M had been held in execu- dence of persons questioning the doctri- told me he was calling to ask me to go with tive session and were not included. nal purity of any current missionaries. him to visit the IMB and to personally visit I answered Dr. Rankin on July 2 and with Jerry Rankin. He told me I would have 3. I requested a copy of the minutes of the told him I was not surprised to receive his access to any books, financial statements recent IMB board meeting held in Bir- letter since I had heard it was coming, but or other information and be able to ask any mingham. I hoped that this would clarify that I did not expect him to not be truthful questions. He said we would fly up together why the IMB had chosen to require the with me. I knew the invitation had been and share a room. missionaries to sign the 2000 BF&M discussed in a committee meeting in which I told him I was shocked by the invita- after telling the BGCT Missions Study he was present. tion and would have to think about it. I was Committee last year that they would not After the Baptist Standard called David not sure it would accomplish much, but ask them to sign. Evans, he called me and said he was not because I liked him and valued his friend- When I did not hear from Dr. Rankin by going to make any public comment. He ship, I would certainly give it serious late April, I called David Evans again. told me he was sorry Dr. Rankin had lied thought. David informed me that he thought I was to me in his letter and I urged him to admit Then I joked that I could not believe he going to be disinvited to meet with Dr. this to the press. He said he did not want to actually still supported the SBC and he re- Rankin. He said he had missed the last IMB do that because he did not want to hurt the sponded that he could not believe I did not board meeting, but he believed that the com- IMB mission effort but that he would tell anymore. mittee had already canceled the invitation. Dr. Rankin “face to face” that he did not I continued to reflect on his invitation I then asked David to clarify if the invita- appreciate his dishonesty. and decided to accept it while flying from tion was from him alone or from the com- I told David I appreciated his efforts San Angelo to Charlotte for the Mainstream mittee. He told me that it had been dis- and that I felt we were both trying to do Baptist Convocation. At DFW airport where cussed in a committee meeting with Dr. what we think is right. I said the best thing I changed planes, I called David and asked Rankin present and all had agreed to meet we could do to help the missionaries is to if the invitation was still open. He assured with me. get a $100 million fund and ask how many me it was. He also said he thought it was a mistake wanted to leave the IMB. I said 1,000 mis- I informed him of my plans to publicly to cancel my invitation. sionaries would resign in a month. He said accept the invitation with Baptist Press in I told him that if I were disinvited, it he disagreed. attendance and asked if he was comfort- would have to be reported by the press, Then I laughed and said, “David, some- able with my decision. I told him I did not because I had accepted the invitation pub- day, I’m going to get $35 from you when want to put him on the spot nor accept it licly. David said he understood that but you join TBC.” He laughed in return and publicly and then find out it was not a real asked that I please not say anything until that ended our conversation. invitation. He assured me the invitation was after the May board meeting when he was In conclusion, allow me to say a few real and that he was comfortable with me going to urge them to follow through with other things. — 20 — First, let me say that David Evans is a you are” and 1,000 would leave in a month. myself wondering if Charles Wade, the fine Christian pastor. He is my friend and I The person looked at me, smiled, and said, BGCT executive director, and John Upton, appreciate his effort to foster dialogue. No, “Your numbers are way too low, many the Baptist General Association of Virginia we do not agree about many things, but I more than that would love to leave.” executive director would be allowed to meet have great respect for him. This is truly tragic. Our money is being with Dr. Rankin and receive answers to my I know he will neither confirm nor deny used to “trap these people.” They feel called questions. these things I have written and I respect his to missions and they love where they are Fourth, I am saddened that an SBC ex- choice. working. Thus they are willing to do what- ecutive could so easily lie to me. My Mother Second, we do need to think about what ever it takes to stay there, although they taught me that lying was unethical and im- is happening to the IMB appointed mis- would love to be out from under the thumb moral. Even sadder, as you will read in the sionaries. I recently mentioned that I of SBC fundamentalism. “Do We Look Stupid” article on page 5, thought if CBF or the BGCT had $100 Third, I am sorry we have reached the lying seems to be standard operating pro- million we could tell the missionaries, “you point in Baptist life where dialogue cannot cedure for leaders of the Southern Baptist can leave the IMB and stay right where happen regarding important issues. I find Convention.

2002 Baptist General Convention of Texas

The 117th annual convention will meet November 11-12, 2002, in the Ferrell Special Events Center, 1900 South University Parks Drive, Waco. The Convention will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 11 and adjourn at the close of Tuesday night’s session. Tuesday afternoon will be devoted to annual meetings of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas and Texas Baptist Men. For those messengers who arrive in Waco a little early and for local Bap- tists, early registration is planned on Sunday, November 10 from 3-6 p.m. in the Waco Convention Center lobby, 100 Washington Avenue, where the exhibits will be located. The exhibit hall will be open during the early registration on Sunday, November 10. On Monday morning (November 11) at 8 a.m., registration moves totally to the Ferrell Special Events Center. This year, the Convention will hear reports from the Missions Review and Initiatives Committee, will act on a proposed 2003 budget, and will elect officers. There is free parking at all hotel locations in the BGCT block and at the Ferrell Center and Convention Center. A continuous shuttle service will operate between the Ferrell Center and Convention Center beginning Mon- day morning. No shuttle service will be provided from the hotels, except as provided by the individual hotels.

— 21 — BGCT committee endorses world missions network proposal Excerpts from article by Ken Camp Texas Baptists are considering the cre- BGCT Executive Board, the chair of for everyone else.” ation of a world missions network designed the Administrative Committee, the The proposed network would be set up to help churches and missionaries across the chair of the Missions Review and Ini- as a separate not-for-profit affiliate of the United States and around the world. tiatives Committee, the president of BGCT, rather than part of the existing state The committee worked through four sub- Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, convention Executive Board staff organiza- committees—one devoted to networking ini- the president of Texas Baptist Men and tion to maintain close ties, but also provide tiatives, and the others related to the North the executive director of the BGCT. the ability for rapid response. American Mission Board, International Mis- “This status creates a close working rela- ¥ That this world missions network es- tionship with the BGCT while providing the sion Board, and Cooperative Baptist Fel- tablish an advisory council to bring to- lowship Global Missions. ability to respond quickly and effectively to gether missions experts and represen- rapidly developing global situations. The The networking initiatives subcommit- tatives of Baptist conventions from tee, which proposed the world missions net- not-for-profit status enables the network to across the world on a regular basis to be recognized as a non-governmental orga- work, sponsored “listening sessions” that work on further missions endeavors, drew more than 1,000 people from about nization (NGO), which in some countries and that the executive directors of the allows broader access and acceptance,” the 250 churches to 15 sites around Texas. BGCT, Woman’s Missionary Union of In the listening sessions, as well as in report stated. Texas and Texas Baptist Men serve on The recommendation concerning the interviews with pastors who directly ad- the advisory council. dressed meetings of the subcommittee, Texas network’s governing board would place it Regarding the way in which the network Baptists told about what they already are in a position similar to institutions affiliated will work with missions agencies, Glazener doing in missions. with the BGCT, if the state convention ap- said, “Anybody who wants to come to the “Churches want the BGCT to provide proves constitutional changes concerning table can do so, but they can’t set the menu vision and support,” the committee con- trustee selection. The amendments, to be cluded, in its findings. “Participants in lis- tening sessions indicated they want the The networking initiatives BGCT to offer resources such as a database of needs and opportunities, strategy plan- subcomittee recommended: ning, cultural training and field assistance.” • That a world missions network be established to help churches, Growing out of that discovery, the com- associations, institutions and individuals fulfill their missions call- mittee recommended: ing through both short-term and long-term missions endeavors ¥ That a world missions network be es- across the United States and the world. tablished to help churches, associations, institutions and individuals fulfill their • That this world missions network connect churches, associa- missions calling through both short- tions, institutions and individuals to available missions research, term and long-term missions endeav- education, information, facilitation, training, screening, strategy ors across the United States and the development and support. world. ¥ That this world missions network con- • That this world missions network, like other existing Texas Bap- nect churches, associations, institutions tist entities, be established as a not-for-profit [501(c)(3)] affiliate and individuals to available missions of the Baptist General Convention of Texas with a permanent, research, education, information, facili- strong connection to the BGCT, and that the director of the tation, training, screening, strategy de- network serve on the BGCT Leadership Council. velopment and support. • That this world missions network be governed by a 32-member ¥ That this world missions network, like rotating board, all of whom are Baptists; and that the BGCT elect other existing Texas Baptist entities, be established as a not-for-profit through the Committee on Nominations for Institution Boards [501(c)(3)] affiliate of the Baptist Gen- three-fourths of the board members and the board choose one- eral Convention of Texas with a per- fourth. manent, strong connection to the • That the initial board of this world missions network be chosen BGCT, and that the director of the net- by the president of the convention, the chair of the BGCT Execu- work serve on the BGCT Leadership Council. tive Board, the chair of the Administrative Committee, the chair of the Missions Review and Initiatives Committee, the president ¥ That this world missions network be of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, the president of Texas governed by a 32-member rotating board, all of whom are Baptists; and Baptist Men and the executive director of the BGCT. that the BGCT elect through the Com- • That this world missions network establish an advisory council mittee on Nominations for Institution to bring together missions experts and representatives of Baptist Boards three-fourths of the board mem- conventions from across the world on a regular basis to work on bers and the board choose one-fourth. further missions endeavors, and that the executive directors of ¥ That the initial board of this world mis- the BGCT, Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas and Texas Bap- sions network be chosen by the presi- tist Men serve on the advisory council. dent of the convention, the chair of the — 22 — to ordained female chaplains and terminat- the cause of Christ. considered at both the 2002 and 2003 state ing the NAMB cooperative agreement with conventions at the recommendation of ¥ Encourage churches to express their the District of Columbia Baptist Conven- BGCT coordinating boards for institutional obedience to the Great Commission tion. ministries, would allow institutions to elect through prayer, sacrificial giving and But the committee expressed its desire one-fourth of their trustees, with the BGCT active participation in missions. not to focus primarily on what other Bap- electing the remaining three-fourths. The report cited specific concerns about tists are doing. Instead, the committee stated In addition to the new initiatives, the com- the way the Southern Baptist mission boards its goal of focusing on the future. mittee report also examined the BGCT rela- are using the 2000 Baptist Faith & Mes- “This report calls Texas Baptists to move tionship with existing missions sending sage. Missionaries appointed by the Inter- forward,” Glazener told the Administrative agencies and offered a series of recommen- national Mission Board and fully funded Committee, reading from his committee’s dations. missionaries of the North American Mis- report. The Administrative Committee was re- sion Board are required to affirm the state- “Texas Baptists want to find way for their sponsible for acting only on recommenda- ment of faith as adopted by the Southern churches to touch people wherever there is tions regarding the world missions network, Baptist Convention in 2000. a need they can meet. The proposed initia- since those recommendations related to ad- The report also cited concerns about the tives can help to link the missions passion ministrative and budgetary issues. Other rec- International Mission Board’s “new direc- and energy of Texas Baptists with the ur- ommendations of the Missions Review and tions” policy, which the committee con- gent needs of a spiritually hungry world. Initiatives Committee will go directly to the cluded has undermined the relationship be- “Now is the time for the Baptist General BGCT Executive Board. tween missionaries and national Baptists in Convention of Texas to take a bold step The Missions Review and Initiatives the countries where they serve. forward. Now is the time to build bridges Committee is recommending that the BGCT: In its report, the committee also noted between Texas Baptist churches and ¥ Affirm all Baptist missionaries and ex- concern regarding North American Mission missional Baptists throughout the United press gratitude for their commitment Board policy decisions denying endorsement States and the world.” to follow God’s call upon their lives and appreciation for their service. ¥ Encourage Texas Baptist congregations The Missions Review and Initiatives Committee and pastors to educate and nurture a recommends that the BGCT: vision of missions and the call to ca- reer missions. • Affirm all Baptist missionaries and express gratitude for their commit- ¥ Continue to offer help in the transition ment to follow God’s call upon their lives and appreciation for their of Southern Baptist missionaries who service. cannot, in good conscience, affirm the • Encourage Texas Baptist congregations and pastors to educate and 2000 Baptist Faith … Message. nurture a vision of missions and the call to career missions. ¥ Find ways to enable missionaries to serve who cannot, in good conscience, • Continue to offer help in the transition of Southern Baptist missionar- affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith … Mes- ies who cannot, in good conscience, affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith … sage. Message. ¥ Seek fraternal relations with Baptist • Find ways to enable missionaries to serve who cannot, in good con- conventions and unions in other coun- tries for mutual growth and the exten- science, affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith … Message. sion of the Kingdom of God. • Seek fraternal relations with Baptist conventions and unions in other ¥ Continue to work on specific missions countries for mutual growth and the extension of the Kingdom of God. projects with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, without entering into a for- • Continue to work on specific missions projects with the Cooperative mal relationship. Baptist Fellowship, without entering into a formal relationship. ¥ Adopt the 2002 Cooperative Agree- • Adopt the 2002 Cooperative Agreement between the North American ment between the North American Mis- Mission Board and the BGCT. sion Board and the BGCT. ¥ Call on Texas Baptist churches to pray • Call on Texas Baptist churches to pray for the District of Columbia for the District of Columbia Baptist Baptist Convention and “its valiant efforts to win people to a saving Convention and “its valiant efforts to knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and minister to the needs of those win people to a saving knowledge of who live in the nation’s capitol.” the Lord Jesus Christ and minister to • Urge the North American Mission Board to reconsider its action re- the needs of those who live in the nation’s capitol.” garding the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and that NAMB take strategic action that will enable it to work with the District of ¥ Urge the North American Mission Columbia Baptist Convention in ways that will advance the cause of Board to reconsider its action regard- ing the District of Columbia Baptist Christ. Convention and that NAMB take stra- • Encourage churches to express their obedience to the Great Commis- tegic action that will enable it to work sion through prayer, sacrificial giving and active participation in mis- with the District of Columbia Baptist sions. Convention in ways that will advance — 23 — Mark Your Calendar!

Baptist General Convention of Texas Annual Meeting November 11–12, 2002 Waco, Texas

MISSION STATEMENT OF TEXAS BAPTISTS COMMITTED Texas Baptists Committed is dedicated to reach people for Christ through local churches, to uphold historic Baptist principles, and to cooperate with the mission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and its related institutions.

The TBC Newsletter is a periodical published and mailed six times a year to churches in Texas and to all Baptists Committed members and supporters. You may be on several lists. If you get two newsletters, please pass one along to a friend. Send Address changes to: P.O. Box 3330, San Angelo, Texas 76902-3330.

Texas Baptists Committed Non-Profit Organization P.O. Box 3330 U.S. POSTAGE PAID San Angelo, Texas 76902-3330 Dallas, TX 915-659-4102 75212 Permit No. 2409 Change Service Requested

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